Azerbaijan GP Saturday race, F1 presenter absence, and first AMR27 clues: F1 roundup

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix week is underway, and the latest F1 headlines are dominated by a schedule change, a broadcasting milestone, and early signals on Aston Martin's 2027 challenger.

Why it matters:

This weekend's race will run on Saturday rather than Sunday, a rare shift that affects team routines and fan plans. Meanwhile, a familiar voice will be missing from the paddock for the first time in nearly three decades. And Aston Martin's admission that its next car will be a clean sheet reveals the scale of its reset after a difficult 2026.

The Details:

• Saturday race in Baku: The Azerbaijan GP is moved forward one day to Saturday, 26 September, to avoid clashing with the country's Remembrance Day on 27 September. Practice and qualifying schedules have been adjusted accordingly.
• Clarkson's streak ends: Tom Clarkson will not attend the Bahrain GP, ending his run of covering every F1 race since 1998. He is away on other business with 1996 F1 world champion Damon Hill.
• AMR27 to be 'completely new': Aston Martin's chief technical officer Enrico Cardile says the 2027 car will not be a simple evolution. The current AMR26, designed under Adrian Newey, has scored just three points this season, all courtesy of Fernando Alonso. Cardile also hinted that Newey is not bound to the team's current development path.

What's next:

Cadillac has already turned its attention to 2027, leaving Aston Martin to fight for points in the remaining races. Lewis Hamilton, meanwhile, cautioned that Ferrari's cultural changes will not happen overnight. The triple-header continues in Bahrain.